Alice Koschak

Koschak, Alice Gaines, 93, of Silver Bay, died peacefully on June 2, 2016, at Barross Cottage in Two Harbors. Alice was born in Bemidji, Minnesota, to Dexie Olive Carter Gaines and Charles Obadiah Gaines in 1922. One of eleven children, Alice spent her childhood growing up in International Falls in a busy household. At the age of 15 she met the love of her life and husband of 58 years, Anton “Tony” Koschak. After getting married in 1939, the couple lived in various locations in Minnesota and Montana and ultimately settled in Silver Bay and raised four children. To Alice, family was everything. She was a loving mother and a tireless homemaker. Alice and Tony loved watching the Minnesota Twins. Although the 2016 Twins caused a serious strain on her heart, she faithfully followed them until the end. She worked hard to make holidays and birthdays special for her family, loved telling a good story or joke (over and over again), enjoyed blueberry picking and walleye fishing, and going to bingo with Tony at the Curling Club. Like everyone in the family, she loved to play cribbage and was especially proud of her “perfect hand” while skunking Tony in February, 1991.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Dexie and Charles Gaines and her husband, Anton Frank Koschak and eight siblings. She is survived by her children Richard A. Koschak (Sam Rathe) of Duluth, MN, Karen A. Koschak (Leo Beck) of Coupeville, WA, Michael R. Koschak (Allison Koschak) of Richmond, VA, and Kenneth J. Koschak (Becci Williams-Koschak) of Superior, WI; 7 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren; and two sisters, Darlene Richards of Little Falls, MN. and Donna Wilson of Pamona, NJ.

The family would like to thank Marilyn Story, Cindy Story, and the staff of Barross Cottage in Two Harbors for the loving care they provided to Alice over the last several years.

A graveside service will be conducted on Thursday, June 16, at 11:00 a.m. at the Sawtooth Mountain Cemetery in Silver Bay. The family will receive friends at the United Protestant Church immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the United Protestant Church, 17 Horn Blvd., Silver Bay, MN 55614.